Alonso sees 'great chance to score points' from P8 on grid in Austin

Fernando Alonso has said the United States Grand Prix a potential points-scoring opportunity for him and McLaren-Honda after several disappointing races, having not recorded a top-10 Formula 1 finish since Hungary.

Alonso qualified ninth for McLaren on Saturday at the Circuit of The Americas, and made his pleasure with his qualifying effort clear over team radio at the end of the session.

"Q2 was probably my favourite lap. I said to the team that was the maximum we could probably do so if we could get into Q3 then great but if not I am happy anyway," Alonso said.

"We went into Q3 and qualified P9 but up to P8 with [Max] Verstappen’s penalty so I think it is a great chance to score points." 

Alonso has failed to score since the summer break, including two retirements, while teammate Stoffel Vandoorne scored two seventh place finishes in Singapore and Malaysia.

Alonso said that there was a potential to change that this weekend. "We missed [points] in Singapore with the first corner incident and we were close in Malaysia and close in Japan with Felipe on the last lap even though we started last with engine penalties," he said.

"Tomorrow if everything goes well finally we can get some points."